ETFO working to help ensure women move into positions of power

ETFO working to help ensure women move into positions of power

For Immediate Release- March 6, 2017

Toronto, ON – As the world marks International Women’s Day on March 8th, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is working to help ensure more women are at political decision-making tables in Canada and globally.

ETFO has donated $5,000 to assist women to be part of the Daughters of the Vote initiative organized by Equal Voice. This week, 338 young women from every federal riding will take a seat in Parliament to represent their community and communicate their vision for Canada.

ETFO First Vice-President Susan Swackhammer, Vice-Presidents Karen Campbell and Nancy Lawler and Federation senior administrators will act as teacher facilitators to assist the young women as they further develop their advocacy leadership skills. ETFO representatives will also join the women in an International Women’s Day march on Parliament Hill.

The following week, the ETFO vice-presidents will be part of a labour delegation at the 61st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. They will press world leaders to recognize that unions are central to women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work.

“In an era when the policies of the American president and others are fanning the flames of division, hatred and sexism, it is vital that women rise up and take power,” said ETFO First Vice-President Susan Swackhammer.

“We are seeing women of diverse backgrounds take to the streets to protest against President Donald Trump’s policies and sexism, and also to rally for Black rights, an end to Islamophobia, and justice for missing and murdered Aboriginal women. It is equally important that women aspire to positions of power through their unions and through initiatives like Daughters of the Vote.”

ETFO has a number of programs to encourage and train women members to become leaders in both their union and in community-based equity and social justice movements. The Federation also provides members with curriculum resources to address equity, inclusion and social justice in their classrooms.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario represents 76,000 elementary public school teachers and education professionals across the province and is the largest teacher federation in Canada.